HOBOKEN, N.J. – The 13th-ranked Endicott men's lacrosse team won their 2015 season opener on the road over Empire 8 opponent Stevens, winning 15-13 thanks to a nine-point game from sophomore attacker Colin Bannon (Westport, Conn.) and two crucial fourth quarter goals by sophomore attacker Will Jennings (Danvers, Mass.) to squash a Ducks furious comeback bid.
Playing in their seventh game all-time against Stevens and for the fourth time in a season opener, Endicott (1-0) owned a 9-3 halftime lead after dominating first half action with a balanced offense and strong defensive presence led by junior goalie Cameron Bell (Falmouth, Maine). Over the opening two quarters, four different players recorded three points, junior Fabian Brunner (Niskayuna, N.Y.) caused two turnovers while senior Ian Knechtle (New Canaan, Conn.) played shutdown defense, and Bell made eight saves in the cage.
Stevens, however, responded in the third quarter by outscoring the Gulls 6-1 to trail by just one at 10-9 going into the fourth quarter. Ducks sophomore attacker Tim Leahey (Loudonville, N.Y.) netted his fourth goal of the game at the 8:23 mark of the fourth quarter to tie the game at 11-11 before Endicott was able to derail Stevens' momentum. Jennings scored two of the next three goals, both off assists from Bannon, to create 14-11 cushion for the Blue and Green on the road. Bannon assisted on each goal during a string of four straight marks that helped put the game away for Endicott.
Senior Jonathan Morgan (Lake Panamoka, N.Y.) capped off Endicott's scoring with 3:39 remaining in the fourth quarter and turned the scoreboard to 15-11 in the Gulls favor. Back-to-back goals by the Ducks, one scored by and another assisted by junior attacker Andrew Scrutchfield (Lewes, Del.), came with under three minutes to go but Endicott held on for their 2015 season opening triumph.
Four goals and five assists by the reigning CCC, NEILA, and ECAC New England Rookie of the year Bannon led the Endicott offense with senior attacker Kyle Weber (West Hartford, Conn.) adding four points via three goals and an assist. Seniors Joshua Tordik (Sayville, N.Y.) and Nick Pinciaro (Beverly, Mass.) each contributed with three points in the first half with the Morgan brothers and senior midfielder Harrison Cotter (Lordship, Conn.) chipping in with a point apiece.
Bell would finish with 11 saves in the game. Brunner and Knechtle had a team-best two caused turnovers with five other Gulls forcing Stevens turnovers.
Sophomore faceoff specialist Tommy Hughes (Coram, N.Y.) had a strong game with 19-of-32 faceoff victories and nine groundballs. Cotter and fellow senior Sam Scoba (Franklin, Mass.) were each helpful in maintaining possession with three groundballs apiece.
As a team, Endicott converted 17-of-18 clear opportunities. Endicott committed eight penalties and allowed two man-up goals for the Ducks but on eight man-up opportunities on offense, the Gulls went scoreless.
Endicott now looks ahead to facing CCC opponent Roger Williams for both their home and conference opener. The Gulls and Hawks meet on Wednesday, February 25th inside Endicott Stadium starting at 4:00 p.m.
